English/Ire
The Jukebox Man primed for King George battle
Ben Pauling is looking forward to taking on the best of the Irish with stable star The Jukebox Man in Kempton’s Grade 1 King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.
The exciting seven-year-old won the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase over the same course and distance on the card twelve months ago, before suffering a setback which ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival and Aintree's Grand National meeting.
Returning at Haydock in November, The Jukebox Man was an easy winner of the Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase and booked his ticket for the Festive showpiece.
Speaking at a Jockey Club press event, Pauling said:
"To say we weren't quite ready for Haydock Park was the God's honest truth. He really was short, but he showed exuberance and what he is, which is a power packed package of aggression and ability. He showed it superbly well and that is all I needed to see.
"We are going there with a horse that we have got huge faith in. Touchwood, I genuinely couldn't have him in better shape.
"His work has gone to a level that we have not actually seen. He is not just back to last year's form, but he seems better again.
"This would be the biggest career win that our team has had. We all love Festival winners and Grade One winners, but to win a King George of this quality would be phenomenal."
It will be the toughest task of The Jukebox Man's career, with likely opposition to include Willie Mullins' Grade 1 Ryanair Chase winner Fact To File and the enigmatic Gaelic Warrior, successful in the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Chase.
"If Willie brings over both Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, then it will be a proper humdinger as you have got the two horses confirmed at that level.
"Then you have got Jango Baie and our lad that have looked very good in novice races, and first time out this season, but have yet to prove themselves quite at this level.
"This is probably the best King George we have had for a very long time. It has got strength and depth. It has got some rising stars, horses at the top of their game, a Ryanair winner. It really is a proper race and I'm delighted to be involved."
A victory for The Jukebox Man would mark a bringing together of both football and horseracing, given the gelding is owned by football manager and I'm A Celebrity winner Harry Redknapp.
"He tried to tell me that when he came to the yard that he was an unlucky owner and I've never had one bit of that as the horses he has had here Shakem Up'arry,
Bowtogreatness, The Jukebox Man, and he has now got Taurus Bay, have done well so he is an incredibly lucky owner to me," added Pauling.
"There is no rush to try to find one, and he is never trying to buy one, but if I find the right one then he will listen.
"It is a joy to train for him as he is a great man and he is a competitor. He gets a lot more nervous than he likes to admit about this horse, but it is good sport and good fun.
"This is the talking horse because of the limelight his owner brings. His owner is a fabulous man and a colourful character in the nicest way. He is a true gent.
"If I had to take a horse with me to do the job it would be him. My job is to keep him A1 until the 26th. Once that is done, I'm happy, but I wouldn't choose to go into battle in a race like this with any other horse that I've trained."
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